At his press conference on August 17, the
Secretary of State announced that (1) legislative action to make available
funds for purposes of emergency relief necessitated by the situation in the Far
East had been asked and that (2) this Government had given orders for a
regiment of marines to prepare to proceed to Shanghai. The Secretary then
discussed at some length the principles of policy on which this Government was
proceeding.

The situation in Shanghai is in many respects
unique. Shanghai is a great cosmopolitan center, with a population of over
three million, a port which has been developed by the nationals of many
countries, at which there have prevailed mutually advantageous contacts of all
types and varieties between and among the Chinese and people of almost all
other countries of the world. At Shanghai there exists a multiplicity of rights
and interests which are of inevitable concern to many countries, including the
United States.

In the present situation, the American
Government is engaged in facilitating in every way possible an orderly and safe
removal of American citizens from areas where there is special danger. Further,
it is the policy of the American Government to afford its nationals appropriate
protection, primarily against mobs or other uncontrolled elements. For that
purpose it has for many years maintained small

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detachments of armed forces in China, and for that purpose it is sending
the present small reinforcement. These armed forces there have no mission of
aggression. It is their function to be of assistance toward maintenance of
order and security. It has been the desire and the intention of the American
Government to remove these forces when performance of their function of
protection is no longer called for, and such remains its desire and
expectation.

The issues and problems which are of concern
to this Government in the present situation in the Pacific area go far beyond
merely the immediate question of protection of the nationals and interests of
the United States. The conditions which prevail in that area are intimately
connected with and have a direct and fundamental relationship to the general
principles of policy to which attention was called in the statement of July 16,
which statement has evoked expressions of approval from more than 50
governments. This Government is firmly of the opinion that the principle
summarized in that statement should effectively govern international
relationships.

When there unfortunately arises in any part
of the world the threat or the existence of serious hostilities, the matter is
of concern to all nations. Without attempting to pass judgment regarding the
merits of the controversy, we appeal to the parties to refrain from resort to
war. We urge that they settle their differences in accordance with principles
which, in the opinion not alone of our people but of most peoples of the world,
should govern in international relationships. We consider applicable throughout
the world, in the Pacific area as elsewhere, the principles set forth in the
statement of July 16. That statement of principles is comprehensive and basic
It embraces the principles embodied in many treaties, including the Washington
Conference treaties and the Kellogg-Briand Pact of Paris.

From the beginning of the present controversy
in the Far East we have been urging upon both the Chinese and the Japanese
Govern meets the importance of refraining from hostilities and of maintaining
peace. We have been participating constantly in consultation with interested
governments directed toward peaceful adjustment This Government does not
believe in political alliances or entangle meets, nor does it believe in
extreme isolation. It does believe in international cooperation for the purpose
of seeking through pacific methods the achievement of those objectives set
forth in the statement of July 16. In the light of our well-defined attitude
and policies, and within the range thereof, this Government is giving most
solicitous attention to every phase of the Far Eastern situation, to-

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ward safeguarding the lives and welfare of our people and making
effective the policies—especially the policy of peace—in which this country
believes and to which it is committed.

This
Government is endeavoring to see kept alive, strengthened, and revitalized, in
reference to the Pacific area and to all the world, these fundamental
principles.